My Sonic Lab Platinum v Gold Signature

@vonhelmholtz , Some years ago I owned Mac 501 monoblocks and a C2300 tube preamp. Driving PMC IB2i monitors (big things with transmission line woofers), the sound was rich and musical. I've never heard the M12000 but it looks to be similar in concept: a preamp based on 12AX7 tubes, with beefy solid state amplification based autoformers. I can imagine the higher resolution of the Platinum being spot on for the alluring Mac sound.

@wrm57 - you and I remain doppelgängers in so many respects. I have never used the MSL though had a few Airtights back in the day. When I finally visited Albert in person-- long overdue- he had two 14 inch Kuzma 4 Pts set up on his tweaked out SP-10mkiii. One had a Blue Lace, the other the Airtight Opus. The latter sounded more linear but the wood from the drum sticks was lifelike on the Blue Lace. Easy to hear the difference given Albert’s set up which allowed us to switch back and forth between arms/cartridges playing the same record simultaneously.

I can’t answer your question. I know @mijostyn is a big proponent of the MSL line (not sure which model he prefers).

FWIW, I stuck the same Stillpoints under my Allnic phono power supply with the same results. (Currently using a GEC u52 cup base rectifier, which seems to voice "just so" with my system as presently set up). So much has to do with the overall voicing of the system that what works well in one system may not be the right answer in another.

best regards,

Bill Hart

@fjn04 , @rsf507 , I'm starting to think the Gold might be the way. What you described is pretty much what I'm after.

Hey @whart , I was hoping you might join in, given our Allnic and other similitudes, and your history with Airtights, which are MSL siblings. I almost mentioned you regarding the Stillpoints, since I knew you had been using them under your PS, too. So you've moved on from Airtight to Koetsu? Jeez, I guess that means I have to think Koetsu now if we're to remain ghostly doubles.:)

While you're here, a quick question about your Airtight/Allnic experience: were you running into the 20x step up at 47K? I seem to recall the PC1 had a little lower output than the MSLs I'm considering, which on paper would seem to like 13x.

Good to hear from you!

Bill

@wrm57 - I’d have to look at the unit or a drawing of it to tell you but with the Airtight Supreme I think the setting was roughly 82 ohms [oops, I checked the drawing I think it was 70 ohms] on the "primary" side (if that is the correct way to describe the transformer). I found, with the Koetsus (stones, a Jade and a Tiger Eye), they liked closer to 100 ohms. I guess I start with the rule that the setting should be 10x the internal impedance of the cartridge, but I then try different settings, which as you know, is pretty simple on the Allnic.

The Koetsu gives my system something it lacked- gravitas and a very "filled in" sound in the bass. I always found that to be a weakness with the Avantgarde Duo, so maybe I’m just offsetting one compromise with another. But it works! (I also added 15 inch subs and a cheap little DSP unit- the sub system does not interfere with the main amps or speakers but runs from a separate line out from the line stage).

Good to see you, buddy!